Chapter 11: I Really Do Have a Martial Emperor Older Brother

“There shouldn’t be any,” Ling Ying answered after a few seconds of silence.

He hesitated slightly—after all, the situation of the Xiao family was impossible to hide from him.

And indeed, the Xiao family had no Dou Huang...

Xiao Xun’er nodded slightly, a flicker of doubt and worry passing through her beautiful eyes.

If there was no Dou Huang, why would Brother Xiao Yan say such a thing?

Could he really have gone mad?

But she quickly shook her head; she did not believe such a notion.

“Xiao Yan, you say your Xiao family also has a Dou Huang? Fine then, bring this Dou Huang lord out,” Nalan Yanran sneered coldly as she regained her composure.

Ge Ye looked at Xiao Yan and echoed, “Exactly.”

All around, eyes filled with anticipation, suspicion, and other emotions gazed intently at the calm-faced youth.

“Not now,” Xiao Yan shook his head. “My elder brother is busy with something and won’t come for a few days. If you want to see him, you’ll have to wait.”

“Hahaha…” A young man from the Yun Lan Sect laughed arrogantly, pointing at Xiao Yan. “Elder brother? Did I hear that right? You swear brotherhood with a Dou Huang powerhouse and call him elder brother?”

Xiao Yan nodded seriously. “What’s wrong with that?”

The youth’s eyes were filled with contempt, openly mocking, “Look at yourself in the mirror—only at Dou Qi stage three, a waste. Why would a Dou Huang powerhouse look at you?”

His words immediately sparked a wave of discussion.

“Yeah, why didn’t I think of that?”

“Xiao Yan is truly delusional—a waste for three years, now fantasizing about having a Dou Huang elder brother.”

“At least he didn’t claim to have a Dou Di elder brother—that would be too much.”

“Ha! Dou Di? None have appeared for tens of thousands of years.”

Disciples of the Xiao family and some elders cast disdainful looks at Xiao Yan, their disgust plainly visible.

It was as if having someone like Xiao Yan in the family was an utter disgrace.

The three elders had initially been somewhat startled by Xiao Yan’s words.

They even frowned in reflection, wondering if the Xiao family truly had a Dou Huang ancestor that Xiao Yan had encountered.

But when they learned it was Xiao Yan’s elder brother, the three could no longer hold back.

The three elders shook their heads regretfully.

“Children are just children—they can’t even lie properly. Talking about an elder brother? At least say it’s an ancestral elder of the Xiao family; that would lend some credibility.”

“Hmph, what a disgrace. If this gets out today, the whole Utan City will laugh at the Xiao family. Xiao Yan is the shame of the clan,” the second elder said coldly with a sneer.

The first elder nodded in agreement. “Once this is over today, we’ll expel Xiao Yan from the family. Let him manage the shops. We must not let him stay any longer; otherwise, he might influence the younger generation.”

At this moment, the three spoke openly in front of Xiao Zhan, the clan chief, showing no respect for his authority.

Xiao Zhan felt deeply troubled but did not retort.

His gaze toward Xiao Yan was filled with sorrow. Had Yan’er been driven to this point by such harsh words over these three years?

It was the failure of a father who had not fulfilled his duty.

Guilt and self-reproach surged within him. He sighed heavily and approached Xiao Yan.

“Yan’er, your father is at fault—useless for not taking good care of you. Forget today’s matter for now. Go back,” he said, patting Xiao Yan’s shoulder with a tone thick with self-blame.

Xiao Yan was stunned, his confused eyes scanning the surrounding faces, each expressing different emotions.

Doubt, mockery, cold smiles, contempt...

Not a single person believed him.

He stared at Xiao Zhan, dazed. “Father, don’t you believe me either? I’m telling the truth. I’m not lying. I really have a Dou Huang elder brother…”

“Sigh…”

Sighs arose from all around.

Xiao Zhan’s eyes trembled—no reproach, only pain. “Yan’er, I believe you. Now listen to me. Go back to the rear courtyard obediently. Once things here are settled, I’ll come see you, alright?”

By the end, Xiao Zhan’s tone was almost like scolding a child.

He looked toward the door and beckoned to Steward Mo.

Xiao Yan shook off his father’s hand from his shoulder and said seriously, “Father, I’m telling the truth. Didn’t you ask me before how the secret of the disappearing Dou Qi was resolved? Now I tell you—it was my elder brother who helped me.”

Huh? Xiao Zhan was stunned, a flicker of doubt stirring in his heart.

“Stubborn liar. Xiao Yan, you’re almost sixteen. Can you accept reality?” The first elder laughed loudly and scolded sharply.

When Xiao Yan’s Dou Qi had mysteriously disappeared, the clan had been anxious. The first elder had even sought the cause.

But no solution was found.

Moreover, just a few days ago, tests showed Xiao Yan was still at Dou Qi stage three. Now he suddenly claims the problem is solved—who would believe that?

“Third young master, don’t say anything more. Come with me,” Steward Mo gently pulled Xiao Yan’s arm.

His eyes were filled with tension and worry. He had watched the third young master grow up—once clever, polite, and talented. He became a Dou Qi practitioner at eleven, but after the Dou Qi kept vanishing, the boy seemed to change.

Steward Mo recalled seriously, and every time he saw the third young master forcing a smile and saying he was fine, he hadn’t taken it seriously.

Now, he regretted it deeply. If he had noticed earlier, perhaps the third young master wouldn’t have bottled up his feelings and been driven to the brink of madness today.

Xiao Yan was now furious, wanting to curse.

Were these people crazy? He was telling the truth, yet no one believed him.

“Wait! Who said Xiao Yan can leave!” the youth shouted.

Xiao Zhan turned, anger flashing in his eyes. “What do you want?”

My son is almost driven mad by you, and you still won’t let him go?

The youth lifted his chin arrogantly. “I said, Xiao Yan publicly slandered the Yun Lan Sect and insulted the sect leader. He must apologize today. If he doesn’t make amends, don’t blame the Yun Lan Sect for crushing your Xiao family someday. If you don’t believe me, just try!”

The blatant threat inflamed the entire Xiao family.

However, seeing the youth’s attire, they restrained their anger and instead looked at Xiao Yan, their fellow clan member.

Though silent, Xiao Yan could feel their hatred as if they wanted to kill him.

A wave of grievance welled up in his heart. Why was he being bullied just because he was weak?

Never before had Xiao Yan so desperately yearned for strength.

“Xiao Yan, apologize quickly.”

“Admit your mistakes. Everyone must take responsibility for their own actions.”

“Yes, don’t drag the family down.”

As the first voice rose, more joined in.

The first elder swept his gaze over Xiao Yan. “If you’ve done wrong, admit it. You have no talent, so obediently agree to call off the engagement. Don’t bring trouble to the clan.”

“Did you hear that, Xiao Yan? Today, this marriage is off!” Nalan Yanran sneered coldly, her lips curling with disdain.

Noticing his father’s embarrassment and helplessness, as if wanting to do something but unable to, Xiao Yan’s heart twisted painfully. How he hated that damned ring for stealing his Dou Qi.

Otherwise, today he might have been a four-star or even five-star Dou Qi practitioner.

Just as Xiao Yan sank into helpless self-reproach and pain, a deep, cold voice suddenly rang out from outside:

“Who’s bullying my second brother?!”